BigWind creates a ‘living nightmare’ in Michigan. Is Ohio next???

In Huron County, Michigan, the headlines following a hearing on more wind development were: “Residents: Life here is ‘living nightmare’ “ The story is one sad experience after another from the people who are bearing the brunt of the state and federal policies and subsidies that promote wind development along with the ideological fervor of the anti- fossil fuel carbon haters. But who gets the blame at the end of the day in Michigan? THE LEASEHOLDERS! ““But the biggest thing is the landowners who signed up,” Smith said. “They started the process with developers. It started with landowners, and people seem to forget that.” We suppose there is a good lesson there that the best protection is an informed public that turns away the developer’s alluring promises. The problem is that the developers work in secret and play neighboring landowners off one another by falsely claiming “everyone has signed up, so you might as well, too.” Often the landowner is old and doesn’t fully understand. This scenario is likely to occur in Ohio, unless our citizenry becomes informed about the truths behind BigWind. Oh, and let us not forget the ‘Say Yes to BigWind’ aka Ohio Power Siting Board. They are all but ensuring that this WILl happen in Ohio…

As plans progress for hundreds more wind turbines in Huron County, residents continue to fire their opposition at both developers and county officials.

On Wednesday, residents skewered county planners for allowing that to happen, claiming they aren’t protecting residents and telling of the “hell” and “living nightmare” they’re now stuck with in the state’s unofficial wind capital…

“You and every township board in this county has traded our health, safety and welfare for the almighty dollar,” an emphatic Barry said as she chastised planners.

“Because it seems like that’s all you’re considering with these turbines is the dollar and not the effect that they have on the people in this community. … Shame on you for not protecting this county.”…

“And our quality of life has been taken away, replaced with a pollution of never-ending noise, shadow flicker, red blinking lights and health issues for many,” Barry said…

Jon Elliott of Pigeon said he “lives in hell” near the 44-turbine Pheasant Run project, which mixes with another 44 in the Brookfield Wind Park that span five townships in western Huron County…

“I don’t want to have those right at my back door,” Elliott said, raising his voice toward planners. “I might as well put a for sale sign on and have you guys buy the place.”

It wasn’t Nancy Krohn’s first rodeo, either.

“It’s a living nightmare around here now,” Krohn, of Elkton, said…

The comments hit a nerve for Jeff Smith, the county’s building and zoning director.

“It bothers me because we worked hard in my office (on the new wind energy ordinance),” Smith said.

Officials took nearly two years drafting and adopting a new wind energy ordinance.

Smith, at the forefront, worked with planners, an acoustics firm, the county’s attorney, other officials, residents and wind developers, seeking information locally, statewide and across the country to write a turbine rulebook for 16 county-zoned townships.

What resulted was a 22-page ordinance almost triple the length of a 2010 revision. Wind developers said it was so strict it would zone turbines out of the county. Smith acknowledged the impact stricter rules would have on wind projects, but stood by the ordinance, saying it’s “reasonable” and will protect everyone in the county. He cited a want for responsible development and consistency…

“It’s in place to protect people, and it does protect people,” he said.

He went on, putting the blame on higher-ups for the drive for wind energy projects and explaining why developers eyed Huron County for siting…

“But the biggest thing is the landowners who signed up,” Smith said. “They started the process with developers. It started with landowners, and people seem to forget that.”

If you visit Fairneny — and people are; people from Savoy, in particular, where a wind farm is being proposed — he will likely employ colorful language to explain to you why industrial wind turbines are a bad deal from the standpoint of noise, alleged health risks, and impact on the environment and property values. "We're screwed here," he say […]

WPD Canada has stated that the company’s board of directors have decided not to proceed with an appeal of that decision, and will not be moving ahead with what would have been an eight-turbine project.

The construction of a larger 30 megawatt capacity wind project in the same general area northwest of Kimball where a decommissioned wind project has existed in the past will triple the amount of power generated.